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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail holiday

The French Riviera and Italian Ligurian Coast 2027

Escorted rail journey from London to Turin via Nice, Monaco, Genoa and Cinque Terre.

Illustration of The French Riviera and Italian Ligurian Coast 2027

The Railway Touring Company's 11-day escorted rail holiday takes you from London to Turin along the French Riviera and Italian Ligurian coast. You depart London by Eurostar Plus, travel through Paris on a high-speed TGV to Nice, then follow the Mediterranean coastline by train through Monaco and Genoa to Pisa and the five villages of Cinque Terre, before concluding in Turin. The itinerary balances guided sightseeing with free time: you spend three nights in Nice with a full day at leisure to explore the tram network, five nights in Genoa with rides on historic funiculars and rack railways dating from 1897 to 1909, and two nights in Turin featuring a private vintage 1930s tram charter and the panoramic Sassi-Superga rack railway to the Basilica of Superga. A Tour Manager travels with you throughout, handling logistics and guiding museum visits and city walks. This trip suits repeat rail travellers drawn to historic transport, couples seeking Mediterranean scenery and romance, and history lovers interested in Pisa's Leaning Tower and Genoa's maritime heritage.

What to know before you look closer

  • The ground-only option (Nice to Turin) is 200 GBP cheaper but excludes Eurostar and UK travel, requiring you to arrange your own journey to Nice.
  • Only one departure listed for 2027, in March; confirm availability before booking.
  • High-speed train return from Turin to Paris on Day 11 is not fully described; confirm this rail routing with the operator.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Nice

    London to Nice by high speed rail

    Travel with Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, then a direct afternoon TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice Ville. Arrive in Nice in the evening and transfer to your hotel, where dinner is served.

  2. Day 2overnight: Nice

    Tramways and leisure in Nice

    A full free day to explore the French Cote d'Azur at your own pace, using an included 1-day rover ticket on the city's tram network. Dinner is served at the hotel in the evening.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Nice

    Cote d'Azur scenery at Menton and Monte Carlo

    Travel by train from Nice Ville to the seaside town of Menton, on the Italian border, then continue by train to Monaco to visit Monte Carlo, renowned for its casino and harbour. Return to Nice for a free evening.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Genoa

    Seaside railway trip from Nice to Genoa, Balbi scenic lift in Genoa

    A scenic 3-hour train journey from Nice to Genoa, changing at Ventimiglia. Check in at Genoa Piazza Principe station, receive a public transport rover ticket, and ride the historic Balbi scenic lift (1929). Buffet dinner served at the hotel.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Genoa

    Panoramic mountain railways and scenic funiculars of Genoa

    Four distinctive sightseeing rides led by the Tour Manager: the Righi funicular (1897), the Castelletto lift (1909), and the Granarolo rack railway (1901), plus a visit to the Santuario della Madonnetta. Dinner served at the hotel.

  6. Day 6overnight: Genoa

    Genoa Old Town, harbour cruise, aquarium and historic ships in the Porto Antico

    A harbour ferry trip from Porto Antico to Molo Archetti, with the option to visit the Aquarium or the Maritime Museum, plus a local guide's walking tour of the city's UNESCO-listed palaces. Evening free at leisure.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Genoa

    Train trip to Pisa, visit to the Leaning Tower

    One of the world's most scenic coastal rail journeys along the Ligurian shoreline, passing Sestri Levante and Levanto, to Pisa for the Leaning Tower and cathedral, then return to Genoa via the scenic coastal route.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Genoa

    Seaside railway and villages of Cinque Terre

    Travel from Genoa to Monterosso al Mare and onward to Vernazza, visiting all five Cinque Terre villages including Manarola and Riomaggiore. Return to Genoa by direct train from La Spezia. Dinner served at the hotel.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Turin

    Genoa to Turin by rail

    A Trenitalia service from Genoa via the hills of Alessandria and the Prosecco countryside around Asti to Turin, arriving at midday for lunch at your hotel near Porta Nuova station. Visit the former Fiat factory at Lingotto, with its rooftop test track, then free time with a complimentary tram and metro day ticket.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Turin

    Vintage tramways and Sassi-Superga rack railway in Turin

    A private charter tour aboard a vintage 1930s tram covering some of the network's most interesting sections, including a stop at Gran Madre di Dio, before connecting at Sassi with the panoramic electric rack railway to the Basilica of Superga. Farewell dinner at the hotel.

  11. Day 11rail

    Turin to London via the French Alps and Paris

    A morning high-speed train from Turin to Paris Gare de Lyon via the French Alps, then a coach transfer to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: Train from Nice to Menton on the Italian border, then onward to Monaco to visit Monte Carlo and its casino.
  • Day 4Day 4: A scenic three-hour coastal train journey from Nice to Genoa via Ventimiglia, followed by a ride on the historic Balbi scenic lift from 1929.
  • Day 5Day 5: Four distinctive sightseeing rides on Genoa's historic transport: the Righi funicular from 1897, the Castelletto lift from 1909, and the Granarolo rack railway from 1901.
  • Day 7Day 7: One of the world's most scenic coastal rail journeys along the Ligurian shoreline to Pisa, passing through Sestri Levante and Levanto.
  • Day 8Day 8: Train through all five villages of Cinque Terre, including Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
  • Day 10Day 10: Private charter aboard a vintage 1930s tram in Turin, then a panoramic rack railway to the Basilica of Superga.

Included

  • 10 nights accommodation with breakfast at centrally located, quality hotels
  • 1 Lunch
  • 5 Dinners
  • Eurostar Plus travel on Eurostar services
  • First Class travel on French TGV and TER trains, as well as FS Trenitalia InterCity services
  • First Class travel SBB EuroCity train through the Swiss Alps
  • Standard Class travel on local trains when First Class is not available
  • Complimentary public transport rover tickets in Nice, Genoa and Turin
  • Sightseeing river and canal cruise in Strasbourg
  • Harbour cruise in Genoa
  • Museum and site admissions to all the attractions as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. The standard price of 2,595 GBP includes Eurostar Plus, First Class TGV travel, and Trenitalia services. The ground-only option (2,395 GBP) excludes UK travel and Eurostar.
Is this trip escorted?
Yes. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout.
Which trains are used?
Eurostar Plus (London to Paris), TGV First Class (Paris to Nice), FS Trenitalia and local services (Nice to Genoa), Trenitalia (Genoa to Turin), and a high-speed train returning from Turin to Paris via the French Alps. You also ride historic funiculars, rack railways and a vintage 1930s tram in Genoa and Turin.
What accommodation is included?
Ten nights in three hotels: Nice (three nights), Genoa (five nights) and Turin (two nights), all centrally located with breakfast included.
What meals are included?
Breakfast daily, five dinners at the hotel and one lunch. Other meals are at your own expense.
What is not included?
Most lunches and dinners, flights or rail travel to London, transfers to your home, travel insurance, and visas if required.

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